Norway initiated an international declaration against fisheries crime in 2018. At the time, nine countries supported this initiative and now Brazil has also joined, bringing the number of supporting states to 34.
‘Brazil is a large and important port nation and has the tenth largest economic zone in the world. It is therefore very pleasing that the country is now joining the declaration,’ said Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Seafood Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen.
Norway launched the Blue Justice initiative in 2019, which assists states in co-operating across national borders against fisheries-related crime.
‘Fisheries crime is a global problem that crosses borders, and therefore we must be able to co-operate quickly and efficiently and use the opportunities that exist in a digital world. That is why we have built this system to facilitate secure global interaction in this important work,’ Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen said.
A Norwegian-developed digital co-operation platform will bring authorities together in the fight against fisheries crime. The platform, which is administered by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), was used during the current signing with Brazil.
‘We must work make every effort to ensure that developing countries also get a share of the opportunities offered by innovation and digitalisation, which gives these states the opportunity to skip development stages. We know that fisheries crime has a negative impact on food security and the livelihoods of vulnerable coastal populations. Therefore, this digital platform is an important tool,’ said Minister of Development Dag-Inge Ulstein.
The countries in the Marine Panel have agreed to ensure 100% sustainable marine management within their respective sea areas. Fisheries crime is one of a number of serious threats to the development of sustainable maritime economies.
‘Together with the other coastal nations in the Marine Panel, we are now actively working to get more of the world’s countries to make a conscious choice to prioritise sustainable marine management. Political will and international co-operation, together with practical tools such as the Blue Justice Initiative, are important in this work,’ said the Prime Minister’s representative in the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Marine Economy Jens Frølich Holte.
To support the platform, Norway will contribute unique expertise in vessel tracking through the international competence centre in vessel tracking, which the Directorate of Fisheries and the Norwegian Coastal Administration collaborate on in Vardø.
Minister of Fisheries and Seafood Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen and his Brazilian colleague Jorge Seif Jr. meet via an online link
